Penn National Race Course
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Penn National Race Course is a one-mile thoroughbred racetrack in Grantville, Pennsylvania. Live racing is held year-round.
Penn National's illustrious history and tradition has made it a major force in Central Pennsylvania's sports and entertainment scene. Through the wonders of simulcasting, its racing program is viewed by patrons across the nation and the world.
Penn National Race Course hosts some of the more prominent Stakes racing events in the state. Among these are:
- The Pennsylvania Governor's Cup
- The Missy Good Stakes
- The John J. Shumaker Handicap
- Jenny Wade Handicap
- Capital City Handicap
- Blue Mountain Juvenile Stakes
Penn National Race Course Records – Dirt Track
| Distance | Horse | Age | Weight | Time | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2 Furlongs |
Winning Brew | 2 | 119 lbs | 20.57 | May 14, 2008 |
4 Furlongs |
Gross | 2 | 118 lbs | 46.20 | Apr 13, 1973 |
4 ½ Furlongs |
Glacken | 7 | 117 lbs | 50.56 | Sep 20, 2007 |
5 Furlongs |
Rockin in Dixie | 4 | 118 lbs | 56.38 | Aug 06, 2012 |
5 ½ Furlongs |
Whateveryouwant | 7 | 123 lbs | 1:01.66 | Apr 11, 2019 |
6 Furlongs |
Sparticle | 4 | 119 lbs | 1:07.68 | Aug 24, 2019 |
1 Mile |
Johnny Jump Up | 6 | 119 lbs | 1:35.64 | Oct 27, 2017 |
1 Mile 70 Yards |
Vault | 3 | 119 lbs | 1:39.55 | Nov 06, 2019 |
1 1/16 Miles |
A Letter to Harry | 4 | 117 lbs | 1:41.20 | Sep 10, 1978 |
1 1/8 Miles |
Matt King Coal | 4 | 123 lbs | 1:48.93 | Jun 03, 2017 |
1 3/16 Miles |
Bar Tab | 8 | 114 lbs | 1:55.40 | Oct 14, 1972 |
1 ¼ Miles |
Adda Nickell | 4 | 122 lbs | 2:03.60 | Oct 30, 1976 |
1 ½ Miles |
Holly Holme | 5 | 118 lbs | 2:31.40 | Sep 29, 1973 |
1 5/8 Miles |
New Episode | 8 | 119 lbs | 2:48.15 | May 18, 2001 |
1 3/4 Miles |
Chasqui (ARG) | 7 | 119 lbs | 3:00.00 | Jun 21, 1980 |
2 Miles |
Finny Flyer | 6 | 111 lbs | 3:28.00 | May 25, 1974 |
Penn National Race Course Records – Turf Course
| Distance | Horse | Age | Weight | Time | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Furlongs | Bop | 5 | 121 lbs | 54.61 | Aug 03, 2002 |
| About 5 Furlongs | Threewitt | 5 | 116 lbs | 56.28 | Jul 14, 2005 |
| 1 Mile | Thunder Brew | 3 | 122 lbs | 1:33.12 | Jul 31, 2010 |
| About 1 Mile | Whiskey Lullaby | 6 | 123 lbs | 1:34.54 | Aug 14, 2025 |
| 1 Mile 70 Yards | Summer to Remember | 5 | 122 lbs | 1:36.48 | Aug 25, 2022 |
| About 1 Mile 70 Yards | Eff Thirty Five | 3 | 118 lbs | 1:38.22 | Aug 28, 2024 |
| 1 1/16 Miles | Told | 4 | 123 lbs | 1:38.00 | Sep 14, 1980 |
| About 1 1/16 Miles | Pretorian Gold | 4 | 121 lbs | 1:41.20 | Aug 27, 2025 |
| 1 ½ Miles | Coalitioncandidate | 5 | 113 lbs | 2:27.10 | May 27, 1991 |
| About 1 ½ Miles | Bode's Maker | 10 | 119 lbs | 2:27.50 | Aug 14, 2025 |
Penn National Race Course Facts
- Main Track: one mile, oval
- Turf Course: seven furlongs
- Distance from last turn to finish line: 990 feet
History of Penn National Race Course
1972
- Penn National opened its doors to a crowd of 10,686 on August 30. The track was owned and built by a group of civic leaders from Central Pennsylvania. In its first season, the track only had 100 racing dates.
- Penn National established a year-round racing calendar.
1983
- Penn National pioneered the use of account wagering through the telephone.
1991
- In March, the first off-track wagering facility opened in Erie, Pennsylvania.
1994
- On May 26, 1994, Penn National Gaming, Inc, issued $18 million of stock in a public offering. It is now traded on NASDAQ.
- In November, Penn National Gaming, Inc. purchased Pocono Downs.
1997
- In January, Penn National Gaming, Inc. purchased Charles Town Races.
1998
- Penn National off-track wagering facilities rose to 10.
2000
- An 11th off-track wagering facility was opened in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania.
2004
- Pennsylvania passed the Pennsylvania Race Horse Development and Gaming Act, legalizing slot machines at racetracks to help boost the horse racing industry through shared revenue.
2008
- The venue underwent a massive transformation and officially opened as Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course in February. The new $310 million integrated facility featured a massive casino floor directly overlooking the track, integrating the gaming and racing experiences.
2013
- The track launched its signature racing event, the Penn Mile Stakes, a prominent turf race for three-year-olds that quickly achieved graded stakes status and attracted top-tier turf horses from across North America.
2018
- Following state legalization, Penn National opened the first sportsbook in Pennsylvania in November, allowing patrons to place legal wagers on professional and collegiate sports alongside traditional live racing.
2022
- The parent company officially changed its name from Penn National Gaming, Inc. to Penn Entertainment, Inc. to reflect its evolution into a diversified omni-channel media and entertainment brand.